Moroccan Court Acquits Man in Landmark Bible Distribution Case

The Court of Appeal of the city of Taza has just confirmed the first instance judgment acquitting a man accused of shaking the faith of a Muslim and risking, according to the Moroccan Penal Code, up to 3 years in prison.

This person who has just been exonerated would have, according to Hespress, handed over to another individual biblical books and works dealing with Christianity. The latter filed a complaint, claiming that an attempt had been made to shake his faith by handing him the said works.

The court, at first instance and on appeal, ruled that the Bible being a divine book, Muslims also believe in it. Therefore, handing over Christian religious works does not constitute a crime. This does not fall within the scope of Article 220 of the Penal Code which criminalizes anyone who shakes the faith of a Muslim.